May202012

Sports Massage Courses - How Can You Become a Pro in Sports Massage?Have you ever wanted to get into sports massage? Does the idea of helping athletes maintain their fitness appeal to you? If you answer yes then you may want to consider doing some sports massage courses. If you decide to do this then you should find out what training you need, where and when you can do the training and what the training needs to cover.What sports massage training do you need?In order to become a licensed sports massage therapist you will need to complete training. This training comes in the form of certificates and diplomas. If you are already a trained massage therapist then you will simply need to do some courses in sports massage as you get credit for what you have already studied. In order to be a pro in this field you will also need to get some experience. To be the best you should also invest in continued learning in order to keep up to date with new therapies and treatments.When and where you can go for sports massage coursesThere are many institutes and schools that offer sports massage courses. You should read up on each of these places and see who offers the type of training that you want. As to the when of your training, it will depend on the school you are studying through. Some schools will offer evening classes for people who work during the day. Others will have the option of studying part-time or by distance learning. Of course the options will also depend on the course you take. Diploma and degree courses will differ as the difficulty and duration of these courses differ. If you have previously completed any training you should look at getting credit for it if possible. The reason for this is that the credit can decrease the amount of time you will have to study for. You should also know that many schools will need you to complete a practical section in order to assess your hands on technique.What needs to be covered in the course?When you look into a course you should have some idea as to what it should cover. Of course the higher level courses will cover more than lower level ones but there are some things that all should cover.&bull; The skeletal system - this should be covered as massage works with the body's structure. In sports massage it is particularly important that you know the skeletal system.&bull; The muscular system - knowing all the muscles and what they do is important as in sports they can pull or tear.&bull; The laws governing neuromuscular therapy - you have to know what the laws that regulate this therapy are. This will ensure that you work within legal boundaries.&bull; Injury scenarios and differential diagnosis - by covering this you will be prepared for on field injuries and be able to make a diagnosis when needed.There is a lot of training that needs to be done before you can be a sports massage therapist. Courses should cover certain aspects like laws, techniques and practical training. There are many options in study method and time that you should know about.

April272012

Professional Hair Stylist

Is playing with hair your passion? Do you enjoy watching people's hairdos, and doing people's hair? Do you love keeping track of the latest trends in hairstyling? Do you love imagining what kind of hairdo would suit a certain person? In case your answers to all these questions are in the affirmative, a career in professional hairstyling might be just the right thing for you. This article tells you all about this career from what it involves to what is the right way to enter the field. The prerequisites What are the prerequisites for a career in professional hairstyling? The following are some of the major ones: Creativity is the most important prerequisite. A hairstylist should know what kind of style would suit a certain person. The individual should have the ability to pay attention to minute details and should be well organized. To become a professional hairstylist, an individual should be aware of the latest hairstyles, the latest hair cutting techniques, hair colour techniques as well as techniques for hair care. He should have a deep and inherent interest in knowing about the latest trends and should have a special understanding of them. A professional hairstylist should be aware of the various hair products available in the market, and should be knowledgeable about their use. He should have an understanding of what kind of product would suit a particular client's hair. A professional hairstylist should be, well, professional in every sense of the word. He should stick to his commitments readily. Being outgoing and having a good sense of humour would go a long way in developing a good rapport with the clients. Having a genuinely talkative nature and liking to hear about clients' lives would help in establishing a long-lasting relationship with them. A professional hairstylist should have the drive and enthusiasm to succeed in his career. Especially in the initial days of one's career, a lot of struggle might be involved, and the individual should have the determination and patience to see it through. One very important prerequisite for a career as a professional hairstylist is a diplomatic attitude. It is very easy to get carried away by what the hairstylist wants to do with a client's hair, but the most important step is to listen to what the customer wants, and to arrive at a diplomatic solution. A career as a professional hairstylist sometimes requires one to work for long periods of time, sometimes standing at a stretch. This makes it a prerequisite for the individual to be physically fit. At the same time, one should be emotionally prepared as well. The career A professional hairstylist can go opt for either only hair cutting and styling or only hair colouring and hair care, or he or she can go in for everything. Once an individual decides to go for a career in hairstyling, there are several avenues open to him opening one's own salon, working with another established stylist, or entering the world of celebrity hairstyling. One can work either freelance or full-time, depending on one's preferences. Some hairstylists offer services to clients at their doorstep. Initially, one might have to start out as an assistant to an established stylist, and gradually grow towards one's goal. Hairstylists can find employment with television channels, movie and theatre artists, fashion designers, advertising agencies, fashion magazines, or with beauty salons. Some hairstylists prefer to become teachers to impart their knowledge to new entrants in the field, after gaining sufficient experience in the industry. In case the individual decides to establish his or her own salon, a huge amount of planning would be required. Considerable investment would have to be made to set up the salon. This would make good business sense an essential prerequisite, along with the other qualities stated above. Getting a portfolio of one's work and getting some business cards printed out would be helpful. Advertising in newspapers and magazines and/or on the Internet would also definitely be steps in the right direction. When one is starting out with one's career, sending the portfolio and business card to prospective employers would be a good way to start out. Participating in hairstyling competitions would also be a good idea, to get noticed. Usually, after the first few assignments, as in all careers, the work of a hairstylist speaks for itself. Word- of-mouth publicity takes place. Hence, it is essential that a hairstylist always concentrate on doing the best job possible. In some countries, becoming a professional hairstylist requires a degree from a recognized institute and a license to practice. There are several institutes the world over that offer courses in hairstyling, hair colouring, treatments, etc. Getting proper training would help hone the talents and passion of the individual and give them a professional shape. The bottom line Being a professional hairstylist is, of course, a glamorous and lucrative profession, especially if working with movie stars or theatre artists. At the same time, it can be an extremely demanding and tough career.